Defence Minister Mark Mitchell said two of the military officers would work at the NATO mission's headquarters in Kabul and the third at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy as a physical training instructor.

New Zealand withdrew its final Provincial Reconstruction Team from Afghanistan in 2013, but 10 officers are still there helping train Afghan troops.

"A deteriorating security situation has prompted the international community to refocus its efforts. Countries around the globe are making decisions to increase contributions to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorist organisations.

"New Zealand will continue to stand alongside our partners in supporting stability in Afghanistan and countering the threat of international terrorism," Mr Mitchell said in a statement.

Prime Minister Bill English said terrorism from Afghanistan could pose a threat to New Zealand.

"It's all about New Zealand playing its part in a global effort to smother the sources of terrorism, because Afghanistan was seen in that light and still remains potentially a very unstable environment that could generate terrorist activities that put our citizens at risk."

There was no indication there would be a request for more combat troops to Afghanistan, he said.